How Many Times Did Atatürk Visit Bornova?

The Steinbuchell mansion, located across from the Ege University Rectorate building, was at that time in the use of Mrs. Hortence Wood and her sister. From the notes of Hortence Wood, who kept a regular diary, we learn that Mustafa Kemal Pasha, together with his entourage including İsmet Pasha, Fevzi Pasha, Asım (Güven) Pasha, and Halide Edip Hanım, came to Bornova on September 16–17, 1922 and held their inner-circle meetings at this mansion over two days.

From the architectural details of the house where they were guests, visible in the cinematograph footage of Atatürk and Latife Hanım, it was discovered that the location was the Edward Whittall mansion. This revealed that although the exact date is unknown, Atatürk also came to Bornova during his 1923 Izmir visit. The footage from this visit constitutes the earliest and only known moving images of Atatürk in Bornova.

In 1924, Gazi Pasha stayed in Izmir for a full 52 days (from January 2 to February 22). On January 8, 1924, he visited the girls' and boys' schools in the village of Işıklar.

During his stay in Izmir from October 11 to 16, Gazi Pasha first visited the Türk Ocağı (Turkish Hearth) in Bornova on October 12 after observing the army maneuvers in Kemalpaşa, and then visited Bornova once again on October 15 to tour the School of Agriculture.

A garden party had been planned at the Bornova School of Agriculture in honor of Gazi Pasha, who arrived in Izmir on June 16. However, the party was postponed by two days due to the assassination attempt uncovered the day before. On June 18, Gazi Pasha arrived in Bornova at 9:30 PM and, after enjoying pleasant hours at this garden party, departed from Bornova at 3:00 AM on the morning of June 19. Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk uttered his famous words “My mortal body will surely one day turn to dust, but the Republic of Turkey shall endure forever” in a statement to the Anadolu Agency shortly after leaving the garden party in Bornova.

From the notes of Bornova School of Agriculture Principal Abidin Ege, which were also reflected in the press of those days, we learn that Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk visited the school once more on June 22, 1926 and attended the unveiling of his own bust sculpture — the first Atatürk monument in Turkey.

Accompanied by the Minister of the Interior and Members of Parliament, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk visited the Bornova School of Agriculture on March 2, reviewed the work being carried out at the school, and had lunch together with the students and teachers.

Gazi Pasha came to Bornova on February 2 to inspect the new building of the Bornova School of Agriculture. That day, accompanied by the great outpouring of affection from the people of Bornova, he also met with the locals at the Bornova People's Party building.

After observing the maneuvers of the 57th Division, Gazi Pasha came to Bornova on April 11 at the invitation of Division Commander Baki Vandemir. Met with an intense outpouring of affection from the people of Bornova, Gazi Mustafa Kemal suddenly stepped out of his vehicle, mingled with the crowd, and chatted with them on foot. After resting for a while at the Officers' Lodge (today the Officers' Club), Gazi Pasha departed from Bornova once again amid the enthusiastic demonstrations of affection from the people.

Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha, on a national tour with his guest the Shah of Iran Reza Pahlavi, visited the Bornova School of Agriculture together with Shah Pahlavi on June 22. After touring the school's laboratories and classrooms, Gazi Pasha and Shah Pahlavi rested at a table laden with fruit in the school's garden, before departing from Bornova amid the affectionate demonstrations of the people.